Jim Norton
05-29-2009, 03:44 PM
This Memorial Day weekend we gathered and raced on ab historic AFX/Auto World Clubman track just like it was 1973 all over again.
Due to today's faster cars we did however take liberty with the size of the track by increasing the running length by 42". Much in the spirit of the original Clubman's design of fitting on two 4x8 sheets of plywood we worked within the confines of the expanded Clubman fittting on two 5x9 ping pong table size sheets of plywood. Even though we did a floor layout we thought this important.
The dilemma in constructing a true Clubman with Tomy AFX track is the lack of 7" straight track. If you study the Clubman layout there are 2 short corresponding straightaways where one side is a 7" straight and the other side opposite is two 6" straights (12"). This is a difference of 5". What we did was to use a 6" in lieu of the 7" on one side and on the other side opposite an original AFX 5" straight coupled to two 3" Tomy track adapters (3"+5"+3"=11") in lieu of the two 6" straights. This created the same 5" difference in length. With this solved, everything else was easy Tomy track building.
Also in the spirit of the Clubman's heyday we used yellow AFX gaurd railing and the original yellow AFX Russkit controllers wired to fit the new dual power terminal tracks. Sadly, after installing all that yellow gaurd railing it was quickly learned that today's orange AFX gaurd rails and yesterday's yellow AFX are not exactly the same. It became apparent rather quickly that the yellow rails just did not stay clipped on well to the track. The height of today's AFX track is different from that of the old. But, it sure took us back to the good ole days!
One thing that has greatly aided us oldsters in racing on the floor is the benches you see in the photos. Each of these seats was assembled from four pieces of 2 x 12, painted, decorated and upholstered. When we use Parma controllers on 1/32 scale we can color key the seat fabric to the controller/lane. We have six of these seats and it has allowed us the flexibility of floor racing with racers ranging in age from the mid 30s to the late 50s.
Everyone agreed that the Clubman was a great track. Not only was it enjoyable to race on but it was also something to behold laying stretched out on the floor. After it was first contructed, lots of time was spent standing and gazing at it! The greatest feature of the layout is the 180 degree bank turn at the end of the 11' straightway with the short straight coming off into an "s" curve. Not only do you have to out run your 3 opponents through the bank you then have to quickly out brake them into the "s" curve.
This year was the first race with the new AFX Mega-G Champ cars. The verdict is that these were the best matched cars we have ever raced. Right out of the package the cars ran superb. Smooth, fast, quiet and easy to handle pretty much sums up our impressions. These cars were so good that in one heat race all 4 cars crossed the finish line within 12" of each other. The room erupted!
THe Clubman also hosted the AFX SRT cars in a class of GT-40s, Cobra Coupes and Chaparrals. The cars were great to race as well. Pre-race rumblings pretty much had the low slung GT-40s as the favorite. But I am pleased to announce that one on the not so low slung Chapparels out ran two GT-40s to take the win.
We race a scored method of racing with a score sheet which can convey who is leading the race at any time and by how much. The goal in scored racing is to keep your score the lowest. Meaning you are scored a "1" for the win, second a "2" and so forth. We race 5 heat races of 5 laps in each lane twice. In other words, each driver gets to race again in each of the 4 lanes. What this equates to is close and competitive racing each heat and is very intense and enjoyable.
The Clubman is certainly worth the effort to set up. It is a piece of slot car history and one of the most enjoyable tracks to date we have raced on. Those responsible for the design of the track 36 years ago knew what they were doing and have created a timeless winner!
If I can make it work, photos of the above mentioned will be in the following part of this thread. If you don't see them shortly.........HELP?!
Jim Norton
Huntsville, Alabama
Due to today's faster cars we did however take liberty with the size of the track by increasing the running length by 42". Much in the spirit of the original Clubman's design of fitting on two 4x8 sheets of plywood we worked within the confines of the expanded Clubman fittting on two 5x9 ping pong table size sheets of plywood. Even though we did a floor layout we thought this important.
The dilemma in constructing a true Clubman with Tomy AFX track is the lack of 7" straight track. If you study the Clubman layout there are 2 short corresponding straightaways where one side is a 7" straight and the other side opposite is two 6" straights (12"). This is a difference of 5". What we did was to use a 6" in lieu of the 7" on one side and on the other side opposite an original AFX 5" straight coupled to two 3" Tomy track adapters (3"+5"+3"=11") in lieu of the two 6" straights. This created the same 5" difference in length. With this solved, everything else was easy Tomy track building.
Also in the spirit of the Clubman's heyday we used yellow AFX gaurd railing and the original yellow AFX Russkit controllers wired to fit the new dual power terminal tracks. Sadly, after installing all that yellow gaurd railing it was quickly learned that today's orange AFX gaurd rails and yesterday's yellow AFX are not exactly the same. It became apparent rather quickly that the yellow rails just did not stay clipped on well to the track. The height of today's AFX track is different from that of the old. But, it sure took us back to the good ole days!
One thing that has greatly aided us oldsters in racing on the floor is the benches you see in the photos. Each of these seats was assembled from four pieces of 2 x 12, painted, decorated and upholstered. When we use Parma controllers on 1/32 scale we can color key the seat fabric to the controller/lane. We have six of these seats and it has allowed us the flexibility of floor racing with racers ranging in age from the mid 30s to the late 50s.
Everyone agreed that the Clubman was a great track. Not only was it enjoyable to race on but it was also something to behold laying stretched out on the floor. After it was first contructed, lots of time was spent standing and gazing at it! The greatest feature of the layout is the 180 degree bank turn at the end of the 11' straightway with the short straight coming off into an "s" curve. Not only do you have to out run your 3 opponents through the bank you then have to quickly out brake them into the "s" curve.
This year was the first race with the new AFX Mega-G Champ cars. The verdict is that these were the best matched cars we have ever raced. Right out of the package the cars ran superb. Smooth, fast, quiet and easy to handle pretty much sums up our impressions. These cars were so good that in one heat race all 4 cars crossed the finish line within 12" of each other. The room erupted!
THe Clubman also hosted the AFX SRT cars in a class of GT-40s, Cobra Coupes and Chaparrals. The cars were great to race as well. Pre-race rumblings pretty much had the low slung GT-40s as the favorite. But I am pleased to announce that one on the not so low slung Chapparels out ran two GT-40s to take the win.
We race a scored method of racing with a score sheet which can convey who is leading the race at any time and by how much. The goal in scored racing is to keep your score the lowest. Meaning you are scored a "1" for the win, second a "2" and so forth. We race 5 heat races of 5 laps in each lane twice. In other words, each driver gets to race again in each of the 4 lanes. What this equates to is close and competitive racing each heat and is very intense and enjoyable.
The Clubman is certainly worth the effort to set up. It is a piece of slot car history and one of the most enjoyable tracks to date we have raced on. Those responsible for the design of the track 36 years ago knew what they were doing and have created a timeless winner!
If I can make it work, photos of the above mentioned will be in the following part of this thread. If you don't see them shortly.........HELP?!
Jim Norton
Huntsville, Alabama